Down by the Water (The Decemberists song) explained

Down by the Water
Cover:File:Down by the Water Decemberists.jpg
Type:single
Artist:The Decemberists
Album:The King is Dead
Released:November 2010
Recorded:2010
Genre:Folk rock
Length:3:42
Label:Capitol
Prev Title:The Rake's Song
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:January Hymn
Next Year:2010

Down by the Water is a song on the American indie rock band The Decemberists' sixth album, The King is Dead. It was released as a single in 2010.

Lyrics and music

"Down By the Water" includes Peter Buck and singer-songwriter Gillian Welch, who contribute 12-string guitar and vocal harmonies, respectively.[1] It also features accordion riffs and heavy harmonica reminiscent of Neil Young;[2] particularly the song "Heart of Gold".[3] "Down By the Water" has been compared to the music of Bruce Springsteen.[4] [5] It was featured for free download on November 2, 2010, on their official website. Meloy has said that The King Is Dead is more straightforward and heavily influenced by R.E.M.,[6] and "Down By the Water" is a prime example.[7] Meloy himself has said that the song "started out as more of a paean to R.E.M. than I think any of us really wanted it to be".[8]

Lyrically, "Down By the Water" is vaguely mournful.[9] It has been described as "folksy", "uptempo",[10] and "country-esque", and the chorus as "booming".[4] Though "Down By the Water" has been called "catchy" and radio-friendly, it is also said to lack the quality of prose found on earlier Decemberists' work.[2]

Release and reception

The song reached number 33 on the U.S. Rock songs chart. It was favorably reviewed by critics. NPR considered it one of the top 100 songs of 2011.[11] It was ranked the 97th best song of the year by Pazz and Jop.[12] The song was nominated for both Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song at the 54th Grammy Awards.[13]

Chart performance

Chart (2010)Peak
position
U.S. Adult album alternative[14] 2
U.S. Rock songs[15] 33
Japan Hot 100[16] 35

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Decemberists News 11.2.10. The Decemberists Official site. November 4, 2010. November 2, 2010. November 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101108114446/http://www.decemberists.com/index.php. dead.
  2. Web site: Brickner. Sara. The Decemberists Share New Song From Upcoming Album, Attempt to Be As Much Like R.E.M. As Possible. Seattle Weekly. Seattle Weekly, LLC. November 4, 2010. November 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110404211549/http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2010/11/the_decemberists_share_new_son.php. 4 April 2011. dead.
  3. Web site: Weiner. Juli. Blog That Tune! "Down By the Water," by the Decemberists. Vanity Fair Digital. November 8, 2010. November 3, 2010.
  4. Web site: Jones. Colin. Free Music Monday: The Decemberists, Stereolab and Michael Jackson. Death & Taxes magazine. November 8, 2010. November 8, 2010.
  5. Web site: Alvarez. Daniel. The Week in Singles: New Music From Quincy Jones and Amy Winehouse, Bruce Springsteen, the Decemberists, and more. Crawdaddy!. November 8, 2010. November 5, 2010.
  6. Web site: Jessica. The Decemberists – . Stereogum. BUZZMEDIA Music. November 4, 2010. November 2, 2010.
  7. Web site: Zeidses des Plantes. Erik. Down by the water. Prefix magazine. November 4, 2010. November 3, 2010.
  8. Web site: Wolk. Douglas. Colin Meloy Reveals Details of New Decemberists Album. https://web.archive.org/web/20101107153303/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/230682. dead. November 7, 2010. Rolling Stone. November 4, 2010. November 4, 2010.
  9. Web site: Vestal. Shannon. Buzz Sugar. Buzz Sugar. Entertainment Hourly. November 4, 2010. November 3, 2010. November 16, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101116170421/http://www.buzzsugar.com/Listen-Decemberists-New-Song-Down-Water-11801406. dead.
  10. Web site: Warner. Brett. Listen To This: New Music From The Decemberists. ...ology. November 4, 2010. November 3, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724084701/http://www.ology.com/music/listen-new-music-decemberists. 24 July 2011. dead.
  11. News: NPR Music's 100 Favorite Songs Of 2011 . July 20, 2018 . . December 14, 2011.
  12. Web site: Pazz & Jop: Top 48 Singles of 2011 . 2018-07-20 . 2018-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225316/http://yearendlists.com/2012/01/pazz-jop-top-48-singles-of-2011/ . dead .
  13. News: White . Ryan . The Decemberists score two Grammy nominations for 'Down By The Water' . July 20, 2018 . . November 30, 2011.
  14. Web site: The Decemberists Chart History: Triple A. Billboard. February 6, 2018.
  15. Web site: The Decemberists Chart History: Rock Songs. Billboard. July 20, 2018.
  16. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName | artist=The Decemberists | chart=Japan Hot 100}} The Decemberists – Chart History: Japan Hot 100 ]. . March 1, 2015.

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